Guidelines for Application of Rumble Strips
1 Issued 08/22/2011 Revised (08/7/2014)
I. INTRODUCTION
A. PURPOSE
The intent of these guidelines is to establish SHA’s policy on the proper use and application of
longitudinal rumble strips (shoulder and centerline), transverse rumble strips, and rumble stripes
on Maryland’s highway system. These guidelines replace previous directives and guidelines
regarding rumble strips and rumble stripes, such as MSHA’s Draft Directive and Guidance on
the Use of Longitudinal Rumble Strips (date Revised May 14, 2002), and Use of Temporary
Transverse Rumble Strips in Work Zones (SHAs Work Zone Safety Toolbox), and consolidates
them with new information into a single document.
All future revisions to this document that may impact bicyclists shall require the notification to
both the SHA Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator within the Office of Planning and Preliminary
Engineering and the MDOT Director of Bicycle and Pedestrian Access within the Office of
Planning and Capital Programming to gain their input on proposed changes.
B. TARGET USERS
State Highway Administration (SHA) staff/engineers, consultants, and local government
agencies.
II. DEFINITIONS
Rumble Strips: Rumble strips are raised or grooved patterns on the roadway or shoulder that
provide audible and vibratory warnings to drivers that their vehicles are leaving the driving lane
or are approaching an unusual or unexpected traffic or road condition.
Shoulder Rumble Strips: Shoulder rumble strips are rumble strips that are placed on or adjacent
to the shoulder to alert drivers that they are leaving the roadway.
Centerline Rumble Strips: Centerline rumble strips are rumble strips that are placed along the
centerline of an undivided highway with pavement markings applied over top of the rumble
strips to warn drivers that they are crossing the centerline.
Transverse Rumble Strips: Transverse rumble strips are rumble strips that extend across the
travel lane to alert drivers to unusual traffic conditions.
Applied Rumble Strips: Applied rumble strips are rumble strips that are created by placing
pavement marking tape or other product on the roadway surface.
Milled or Ground Rumble Strips: Milled or ground rumble strips are rumble strips that are
created by milling or grinding depressions into the pavement.
Rumble Stripes: Rumble stripes are rumble strips created by placing edgeline pavement
markings over top of rumble strips.
III. POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
This document provides guidance on where and how to install rumble strips and rumble stripes.
Except in unusual circumstances as determined by engineering judgment, these devices should
be installed in accordance with this guidance. In addition to the guidelines described herein,
implementation of rumble strips should conform to the applicable guidelines in the 2011
MdMUTCD section 6F.87. Typical 670.05 lists details on the minimum shoulder width criteria
required for installation. If the shoulder width is deficient (deficient shoulder width is defined as
shoulders where the lateral distance from the outside edge of the rumble strip to the outside edge
of the shoulder is less than 4 feet or to the face of traffic barrier is less than 5 feet) to install shoulder rumble strips then consider installing rumble stripes.
Guidelines for Application of Rumble Strips
2 Issued 08/22/2011 Revised (08/7/2014)
A. SHOULDER RUMBLE STRIPS
Shoulder rumble strips may be used along roadways with shoulders to warn motorists that they
are leaving the travel lanes. See attached flow chart of recommended procedure for determining
installation of shoulder rumble strips/stripes as guidance.
1. Interstates, Expressways & Beltways
Shoulder rumble strips should be installed along the inside and/or outside shoulders of
Interstates, Expressways or Beltways, with the following exceptions:
An interstate, expressway or beltway having a posted speed limit of less than 40 mph
An interstate, expressway or beltway where an engineering study finds that the installation of
shoulder rumble strips is not feasible (e.g., because of shoulder width or condition), the
potential safety benefits of rumble strips likely cannot be realized, or that other
considerations, such as the use of the shoulder by bicyclists, outweigh the potential safety
benefits of rumble strips.
The shoulder is designated for use by buses or for other motor vehicle travel.
As otherwise precluded in these guidelines.
2. Other Highways
Shoulder rumble strips should be installed along the inside and/or outside of other divided
highways, and along the outside shoulder of undivided highways where the posted speed limit is
40 mph or greater, except as otherwise precluded in these guidelines. Unless an extraordinary
circumstance exists, shoulder rumble strips should not be installed along highways where the
posted speed limit is less than 40 mph.
3. Roadways Where Bicycles are Permitted
Along expressways where bicycles are expressly permitted to travel and along other highways
where shoulder rumble strips are desirable, the accommodation of bicyclists must be considered.
While rumble strips/stripes provide a safe, inexpensive, and efficient way to reduce run-off the
road crashes for motorists, if used indiscriminately and/or improperly they can pose an
impediment to safe bicycle travel. Along highways where bicycles are allowed to travel, care
must be exercised in selecting rumble strips/stripes design and placement so as not to create
obstacles and/or risks to cyclists. This should include considering the use of narrower and/or
shallow strips/stripes, as shown in Shoulder Rumble Strip and Rumble Stripe Details (Detail Sheet 670.05).
The following apply to these highways:
Shoulder Widths
Where the paved outside shoulder is five feet or greater in width, rumble strips are to be
installed in accordance with the typicals shown in Section IV.A. of this document.
Where the outside shoulder is less than five feet in width:
- A determination shall be made regarding the actual need for rumble strips or stripes
through the specific section based on collision history, horizontal and vertical alignment,
etc.
- If it is determined that rumble strips or stripes are desirable, rumble stripes shall be used
whenever possible to retain as much shoulder width as possible.
- If, due to motorized traffic conditions, the use of rumble strips is the only treatment that
will be effective, the Lead Project Manager shall make a formal Design Waiver request to
use them, as described in the Policy and Design Waiver Process for Bicycle
Guidelines for Application of Rumble Strips
3 Issued 08/22/2011 Revised (08/7/2014)
Accommodations along State Highways, to the Director of the Office of Highway
Development.
Roadway corridors with segments that have deficient shoulder widths should not preclude the
use of shoulder rumble strips for the entire corridor. Deficient shoulders are defined as
shoulders where the lateral distance from the outside edge of the rumble strip to the outside
edge of the shoulder is less than 4 feet or to the face of traffic barrier is less than 5 feet. In
these segments rumble strips should not be installed for the length that the deficient shoulder
exists. In determining the minimum clear width, consideration should be given to decreasing
the width of the rumble strips and/or placing them closer to the roadway edge, and the use of
rumble stripes.
Shoulder widths should be based on actual field measurements and not on reliance of widths shown on plans, as-builts, or inventories.
Gaps
Gaps for bicyclists are not to be provided along highways where the posted speed limit is 55
mph or greater, except at intersections and/or at other locations as noted in this guideline.
Although safety is maximized by continuous rumble strips, for highways where the posted
speed limit is less than 55 mph, gaps for bicyclists shall be installed.
Gaps, except at approaches to intersections, should be installed with a 60-foot pattern (12-
foot gap following a 48-foot length of rumble strips). This pattern can be adjusted to
accommodate specific milling equipment or for other sound reasons; however, the gap
should not be less than 8 feet nor greater than 12 feet and gaps should not be spaced less than
36 feet or more than 60 feet apart.
Gaps shall be provided on all roadways with rumble strips at all intersections (i.e. 3-legged,
4-legged, etc.) regardless of posted speed.
- For lower speed roadways (less than or equal to 40 mph) gaps shall start 25 feet in
advance of the point of curvature of intersections or at the beginning of the taper for the
left/right-turn lane(s), and stop 25 feet beyond the intersection.
- For higher speed roadways (greater than 40 mph) gaps shall start 50 feet in advance of
the point of curvature of intersections or at the beginning of the taper for the left/right-
turn lane(s), and stop 50 feet beyond the intersection.
- Providing gaps at all intersections allows bicyclists to make turns onto side streets from
mainline roadways with rumble strips with no gaps (due to their posted speed).
- In addition, providing gaps at all intersections allows bicyclists from side streets to enter
mainline roadways with rumble strips with no gaps (due to their posted speed). - All gap spacing shall conform to the requirements below.
Additional Guidance and Consideration
If any given roadway has open section on one side of the roadway and closed section on
other side, the open section side of the roadway should be considered for shoulder rumble
strip installation. Based on engineering judgment, closed section or curbed side of the
roadway may be considered for shoulder rumble strip/stripe installation as well.
Noise from rumble strip hits should be considered when determining whether to install
rumble strips or rumble stripes near residential areas or other sensitive receptors. This should
be a secondary consideration to safety.
Rumble strips or rumble stripes should not be installed where the surface condition is
inadequate for their installation or, except for unusual circumstances, where resurfacing or
other work that would substantially decrease the effectiveness of the strips is anticipated
within the next two years. The Assistant District Engineers for Maintenance, Traffic and
Guidelines for Application of Rumble Strips
4 Issued 08/22/2011 Revised (08/7/2014)
Construction shall evaluate roadway pavement condition when planning and programming
projects for rumble strip application.
Consideration should be given to selecting the shallower depth rumble strips from the range
provided in Shoulder Rumble Strip and Rumble Stripe Details (Detail Sheet 670.05). The
shallower depth rumble strips provide benefits to bicyclists while still maintaining the
audible and vibratory warning to motorists.
Rumble stripes may be installed in lieu of shoulder rumble strips with the concurrence of the
District Engineer. See Section III.E. for further discussion of Rumble Stripes.
More experienced bicyclists have expressed desire to ride between the edgeline and the
rumble strip to avoid debris that commonly collects along the shoulders to the right of the
rumble strip. Keeping the shoulders reasonably free from debris through periodic brooming
and by the prompt removal of disabled vehicles (within the limits of Maryland law) will encourage bicyclists to ride to the right of the rumble strip.
B. CENTERLINE RUMBLE STRIPS
Centerline rumble strips should be installed along an undivided highway with a 40 mph or
greater posted speed limit and 10 foot or greater lane widths in a generally rural area unless,
based on engineering judgment, it has been determined that their installation would not improve
safety. See attached flow chart of recommended procedure for installation of centerline rumble
strips as guidance.
Centerline rumble strips should NOT be installed:
In the area of intersections with public roads. Centerline rumble strips should be stopped 25
to 50 feet (25 feet for lower speed roadways and up to 50 feet for higher speed roadways) in
advance of the point of curvature of intersections or at the beginning of the taper for the left-
turn lane.
In areas with a high density of access points or in areas with short distances between access
points.
Additional Guidance and Consideration
Centerline rumble strips may be installed in passing zones; however, the noise impacts to
residential areas nearby should be considered.
Consideration must be given to bicycle travel and the potential impact of reducing the clear
lane width where bicycles ride in the roadway.
C. Transverse rumble strips
Transverse rumble strips may be used to attract the driver’s attention to unexpected conditions or
to bring the driver’s attention to other warning devices. Transverse rumble strips may be
considered for the following conditions:
1. Approaches to Intersections (Signalized, Stop Controlled, Roundabouts)
Transverse rumble strips should be considered on the approaches to intersections where there is a
demonstrated safety problem (e.g. high crash rate), adequate trial of other warning devices has
failed to reduce the crash frequency, and any of the following conditions exist:
Inadequate stopping sight distance or signal/sign visibility.
Intersection is at an unexpected location.
Intersection is located on a roadway on which motorists have not been required to stop for a
long period of time or distance.
Guidelines for Application of Rumble Strips
5 Issued 08/22/2011 Revised (08/7/2014)
2. Approaches to Horizontal Curves
Transverse rumble strips should be considered on the approaches to horizontal curves where
there is a demonstrated safety problem (e.g. high crash rate), adequate trial of other warning
devices has failed to reduce the crash frequency, and any of the following conditions exist:
A significant speed reduction from the posted speed limit is required to safely traverse the
curve.
Curve is located at an unexpected location.
3. Approaches to Reduced Speed Zones
Transverse rumble strips should be considered on the approaches to reduced speed zones where
an engineering study finds that excessive speeding is a problem in a reduced speed zone and
adequate trial of other regulatory devices has failed to reduce the occurrence of speeding. Factors
that may indicate a need include:
Posted speed reduction of 20 mph or greater.
Entrance to a town, business district, or location where significant pedestrian activity is
anticipated.
The character of the roadway changes, such as at the end of a freeway.
4. Approaches to Toll Plazas
Transverse rumble strips should be considered on the approaches to Toll Plazas where motorists are required to stop or slow to pay a toll.
5. Approaches to Work Zones
Transverse rumble strips may be used in work zones in advance of detours, flaggers, lane splits,
crossovers, lane transitions, exit only lanes, lane closures, temporary traffic signals, and locations
with major reductions in speed limits. Transverse rumble strips are not generally used for short-
term maintenance related construction. When installed on a temporary basis, rumble strips
should be sufficiently durable to cover the period of need. When temporary rumble strips are no
longer needed, they should be removed from the pavement and the pavement should be cleaned and restored to normal conditions.
Additional Guidance and Consideration
Other less invasive measures should be tried before transverse rumble strips are
recommended.
Transverse rumble strips should not be placed on roadways where bicycles are permitted
unless a minimum clear path of 4 feet is provided at each edge of the roadway or each paved
shoulder as described in AASHTO’s Guide to the Development of Bicycle Facilities.
Transverse rumble strips may be supplemented with additional pavement marking warning
messages such as ―STOP AHEAD‖ or ―SIGNAL AHEAD‖ where the purpose of the rumble
strips may not be clear.
The use of transverse rumble strips near residential areas or other sensitive noise receptors
should be carefully evaluated.
Transverse rumble strips should not be placed on sharp horizontal or vertical curves.
The use of transverse rumble strips in shoulders to deter motorists from traveling in the
shoulder for long distances where there is specific justification for their installation requires
the written concurrence of the Director, Office of Traffic and Safety and the Director, Office
of Maintenance. Transverse rumble strips should not be installed in shoulders where bicycle activity is anticipated.
Guidelines for Application of Rumble Strips
6 Issued 08/22/2011 Revised (08/7/2014)
D. RUMBLE STRIPS BETWEEN LANES
With specific justification and the concurrence of the Director, Office of Traffic and Safety and
the Director, Office of Maintenance, rumble strips may be installed between adjacent lanes
moving in the same direction at the following locations:
Where there is a need to further discourage prohibited lane changing.
Between the through lanes and collector/distributor lanes where there is no physical barrier.
E. RUMBLE STRIPES
For any roadway with a 40 mph or greater posted speed limit and 11 foot or greater lane widths,
rumble stripes may be installed where due to the lack of shoulders or adequate shoulder width,
shoulder rumble strip installation is not feasible. See attached flow chart of recommended
procedure for determining installation of shoulder rumble strips/stripes as guidance. At the
discretion of the District Engineer, rumble stripes may be installed in lieu of shoulder rumble strips on any roadway, regardless of the presence of adequate shoulders.
Along roadways where bicycles are expressly permitted to travel and along other highways
where shoulder rumble stripes are installed, the accommodation of bicyclists must be considered.
The conditions set forth in Section III.A.3. regarding gaps and additional considerations shall
apply.
IV. DESIGN GUIDELINES
The following guidelines apply to the design and installation of all rumble strips and rumble
stripes:
Milled or ground rumble strips and rumble stripes are not to be installed on Portland Cement
Concrete bridge decks or on Portland Cement Concrete bridge approach slabs.
Milled or ground rumble strips and rumble stripes can be used on new or existing pavement.
To retrofit rumble strips and rumble stripes on existing pavement, the pavement should be in
sufficiently good condition to effectively accept the milling process without raveling or
deteriorating. Otherwise the pavement should be upgraded prior to milling any desired
rumble strips and rumble stripes. The Assistant District Engineers for Maintenance, Traffic
and Construction shall evaluate roadway pavement condition when planning and
programming projects for rumble strip and rumble stripe application.
To the extent practicable, rumble strips and rumble stripes should avoid in-surface vehicle
detectors and their leads, other highway wiring, raised pavement markers (RPMs), other traffic control devices, and other highway appurtances.
A. SHOULDER RUMBLE STRIPS
Shoulder rumble strips are to be milled or ground into the pavement surface. With the
concurrence of the Director, Office of Traffic and Safety and the Director, Office of Maintenance, applied shoulder rumble strips may be used on an experimental basis.
Where it is determined that gaps in shoulder rumble strips are required to accommodate bicycles
(see Section III.3.), gap spacing should be installed as shown in Figure 1. Gaps in rumble stripes
should be considered where appropriate or necessary to accommodate bicycles (i.e. areas with
shoulders less than 4’ in width being used by bicyclists), gap spacing should be installed as shown in Figure 1.
Guidelines for Application of Rumble Strips
7 Issued 08/22/2011 Revised (08/7/2014)
Figure 1 – Gap Spacing for Shoulder Rumble Strips and
Rumble Stripes to Accommodate Bicyclists
In roadway segments with deficient shoulder widths (defined as shoulders where the lateral
distance from the outside edge of the rumble strip to the outside edge of the shoulder is less than
4 feet or to the face of traffic barrier is less than 5 feet) rumble strips should not be installed for the length that the deficient shoulder exists as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2 – Shoulder Rumble Strips In Areas with Deficient Shoulder Widths
B. CENTERLINE RUMBLE STRIPS
Centerline rumble strips are to be milled or ground into the pavement surface with pavement
marking material applied over top. With the concurrence of the Director, Office of Traffic and
Safety and the Director, Office of Maintenance, applied centerline rumble strips may be used on an experimental basis.
Installation of centerline rumble strips should be coordinated with permanent pavement marking
and RPM placement. Permanent pavement markings and RPMs should be installed after
installation of the rumble strips is complete. Liquid applied pavement marking materials such as,
thermoplastic or paint shall be used for centerline markings in conjunction with centerline rumble strips.
Centerline rumble strips should be spaced along the centerline of a roadway as shown in
Centerline Rumble Strip Details and Typical Layout (Detail Sheet 670.06). Installation of raised
pavement markers (RPMs) with centerline rumble strips is optional, as shown in Centerline Rumble Strip Details and Typical Layout (Detail Sheet 670.06).
Guidelines for Application of Rumble Strips
8 Issued 08/22/2011 Revised (08/7/2014)
Centerline rumble strips should be stopped 25 to 50 feet in advance of the point of curvature of
intersections or at the beginning of the taper for the left-turn lane (25 feet for roadways with
posted speed limits less than or equal to 45 MPH, and up to 50 feet for roadways with posted
speed limits greater than 45 MPH).
C. TRANSVERSE RUMBLE STRIPS
Transverse rumble strips are to be applied to the pavement surface with pavement marking
material. Milled or ground transverse rumble strips may be used with the concurrence of the
Director, Office of Traffic and Safety and the Director, Office of Maintenance. The guidelines described herein are applicable to applied transverse rumble strips.
Applied transverse rumble strips are created by placing two pieces of preformed pavement
marking material on top of each other to obtain the desired thickness. Options include:
Placing a 10‖ pavement marking strip on the pavement and then a 5‖ pavement marking strip
on top of the 10‖ pavement marking strip.
Placing two 5‖ pavement marking strips on the pavement applied on top of each other (more aggressive application).
Figure 3 shows an example of the recommended placement of applied transverse rumble strips
on the approach to a "Stop Ahead" sign. The "STOP AHEAD" pavement markings and the two
sets of rumble strips located after the "Stop Ahead" sign are optional. This same application
could be used prior to other warning signs including "Signal Ahead", "Yield Ahead",
"Roundabout Ahead", "Reduced Speed Ahead", and other traffic control devices.
Figure 3 –Transverse Rumble Strip Placement
Guidelines for Application of Rumble Strips
9 Issued 08/22/2011 Revised (08/7/2014)
D. RUMBLE STRIPS BETWEEN LANES
The specific design (width, spacing, lateral placement, etc.) of rumble strips to be installed
between lanes should be selected based on the identified problems and specific traffic, roadway, and area conditions; and approved by the Director, Office of Traffic and Safety.
E. RUMBLE STRIPES
Rumble stripes are to be milled or ground into the pavement surface with pavement marking
material applied over top.
Installation of rumble stripes should be coordinated with permanent pavement marking and RPM
placement. Permanent pavement markings and RPMs shall be installed after installation of the
rumble strips is complete. Typically thermoplastic or paint materials shall be used for rumble
stripe markings. Preformed tape materials shall not be used for rumble stripe application.
Rumble stripes should be stopped 25 to 50 feet in advance of the point of curvature of
intersections or at the beginning of the taper for the left-turn lane (25 feet for roadways with
posted speed limits less than or equal to 45 MPH, and up to 50 feet for roadways with posted
speed limits greater than 45 MPH).
One of the key considerations for the installation of rumble stripes is maintaining a minimum
effective lane width. Effective lane width is defined as the clear distance between a pavement
marking or centerline rumble strip on the left side of the travel lane and the rumble strip
associated with the rumble stripe on the right side of the travel lane. The minimum effective lane
width that should be maintained is 9’- 4‖. This is calculated assuming a minimum travel lane
width (measured from the roadway centerline to the pavement joint/edge) of 11’ and subtracting
8‖ for half the width of centerline rumble strips, 6‖ for the minimum offset for rumble strips from the pavement joint/edge, and 6‖ for the rumble strip/stripe width.
Another consideration for the installation of rumble stripes is maintaining the existing shoulder
width for bicycle use, regardless of whether the width meets 48‖ minimum required by current
standards. The intent is not to remove the current usable bicycle area in order to install rumble
stripes. For roadways with no shoulders consideration should be given to bicycle
accommodations with rumble stripes. See Section III.A.3. for further guidance.
F. DETAILS
Shoulder rumble strips, centerline rumble strips, transverse rumble strips, rumble strips between
lanes, and rumble stripes are to be installed in accordance with the following details. These
details, in some cases modify existing standard details. See the chart below for more information.
Guidelines for Application of Rumble Strips
10 Issued 08/22/2011 Revised (08/7/2014)
Current
Std. No.
New Detail
No. New Detail Title Remarks
670.00 670.00 LOCATION OF SHOULDER RUMBLE
STRIPS
Revisions to
current standard
670.01 n/a n/a Standard to be
deleted
670.02 670.01 LOCATION OF SHOULDER RUMBLE
STRIPS AT CRITICAL LOCATIONS
Revisions to
current standard
n/a 670.02 OUTSIDE SHOULDER RUMBLE STRIP
DETAILS TYPICAL LAYOUT New detail
n/a 670.03 INSIDE SHOULDER RUMBLE STRIP
DETAILS TYPICAL LAYOUT New detail
n/a 670.04 RUMBLE STRIPE DETAILS TYPICAL
LAYOUT New detail
n/a 670.05 SHOULDER RUMBLE STRIP AND
RUMBLE STRIPE DETAILS New detail
n/a 670.06 CENTERLINE RUMBLE STRIP DETAILS
AND TYPICAL LAYOUT New detail
G. EXCLUSION FACTORS
The Districts may choose to exclude some segments of roadway based on the engineering
judgment even though they qualify for Rumble Strips/Stripes installation based on guidance
described in earlier sections of this document. However, the exclusions will have to be
justified using the following exclusion factors for both centerline and edgeline rumble strips:
1. Centerline Rumble Strips
Housing Density
Reduced Speed Ahead Zone
Sporting Event Location
2. Shoulder Rumble Strips
Poor Shoulder Condition
Housing Density
Reduced Speed Ahead Zone
Sporting Event Location
Shoulder Width Not Compatible With Bicycles
Disclaimer: The above factors are based on a D-6 pilot effort and there is potential to add
more factors based on input from other Districts during Spring/Summer 2012.
Guidelines for Application of Rumble Strips
18 Issued 08/22/2011 Revised (08/7/2014)
SPECIAL PROVISIONS
APPENDIX
For Shoulder Rumble Strips – refer to Section 610 in Maryland State Highway
Administration's Standard Specifications for Construction and Materials.
For Centerline, Between Lane, and Edgeline Rumble Strips and Rumble Stripes – a copy
of the latest Special Provision is provided for reference purposes only. Refer to the latest
Special Provision from Maryland State Highway Administration's Office of Highway
Development.
For Transverse Rumble Strips – a copy of the latest Special Provision is provided for
reference purposes only. Refer to the latest Special Provision from Maryland State
Highway Administration's Office of Highway Development.
SPECIAL PROVISION CONTRACT NO. ContNum
500 — CENTERLINE, BETWEEN LANE, AND EDGELINE RUMBLE STRIPS AND
RUMBLE STRIPES 1 of 1
19 Issued 08/22/2011 Revised (08/7/2014)
CATEGORY 500
PAVING
CENTERLINE, BETWEEN LANE, AND EDGELINE
RUMBLE STRIPS AND RUMBLE STRIPES
DESCRIPTION. Mill or grind rumble strips into existing hot mix asphalt or portland
cement concrete roadways on the centerline strip, the between lanes, or at the edgeline at the
specified locations. Rumble strips designated as Rumble Stripes will have pavement
marking applied over the rumble strip
MATERIALS. Not Applicable.
CONSTRUCTION. Install rumble strips as specified or as directed.
Mill or grind centerline, between lane and edge line rumble strips into hot mix asphalt at
a minimum rate of 4000 strips per hour, and into portland cement concrete at a minimum rate
of 1000 strips per hour.
Rumble Stripes will have the pavement marking applied after the rumble strips are milled.
Equipment. Provide rotary type cutting heads with a maximum outside diameter of 24 in.
and a length of 16 in. The cutting heads shall have the cutting tips arranged in a pattern
providing a relatively smooth cut, approximately 1/16 in. between peaks and valleys.
Provide cutting heads mounted on their own suspension, independent of the power unit, to
allow the tool to self-align with the slope of the roadway and any irregularities in the
roadway surface.
Provide cutting tools equipped with guides that provide consistent alignment of each cut
in relation to the roadway, and provide uniformity throughout the project. The Engineer will
randomly check the pattern edge alignment.
Control Strip. Mill or grind a minimum 100 ft control strip to demonstrate that the speed of
operation, dimensions, and texture are acceptable.
Clean up. Clean pavement by sweeping or vacuuming the work area before the roadway is
reopened to traffic. Remove all waste material resulting from the operation from the site, and
disposed of it in an approved manner. Do not sweep the material to the side of the road.
MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT. Centerline, Between Lane and Edgeline Rumble
Strips in hot mix asphalt or portland cement concrete will be measured and paid for a the
Contract unit price per linear foot as measured along the centerline where the rumble strips
are actually placed. Payment will be full compensation for milling or grinding of rumble
strips, cleaning and disposal of waste material, control strip installation, and for all material,
labor, equipment, tools, and incidentals necessary to complete the work.
Pavement Marking Material for Rumble Stripes will be paid for as specified in the pavement
marking item.
20 Issued 08/22/2011 Revised (08/7/2014)
CATEGORY 500
PAVING
TRANSVERSE RUMBLE STRIPS
DESCRIPTION. Furnish and install heat applied preformed thermoplastic pavement marking lines to
various surfaces to create transverse rumble strips as specified or as directed.
MATERIALS. Preformed Thermoplastic is a durable pavement marking material. Select all Preformed
Thermoplastic Pavement Marking material shall be selected from the Qualified Products List.
Heat Applied Permanent Preformed Thermoplastic Pavement Marking Material 951.06
CONSTRUCTION. Refer to Section 556.
Cleaning Pavement Surfaces. Refer to 549.03.02.
Form Transverse Rumble Strips by placing two pieces or more of pavement marking material on top of
each other to obtain the desired thickness as specified or as directed.
MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT. Transverse Rumble Strips will be measured and paid for the actual
length installed multiplied by the number of layers required to form each rumble strip within a set of
rumble strips. Payment will be full compensation for all pavement preparation, color and width specified,
markings, testing, and for all material, labor, equipment, tools, and incidentals necessary to complete the
work.